Kanahooka vs Koonawarra

Koonawarra is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 48 in Kanahooka. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Kanahooka: a median of $960,000, against $805,000 in Koonawarra, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Kanahooka tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Koonawarra suits families with children and buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Kanahooka

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 75/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Koonawarra

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($805,000 vs $960,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Koonawarra

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (42% vs 13%)
  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $450/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Kanahooka sits closer to the CBD (94.9 km vs 97.1 km)
  • Koonawarra is more walkable (59/100 vs 48/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Kanahooka

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (31% vs 16%)
  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 75/100)
  • But Koonawarra is more walkable (59/100 vs 48/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Kanahooka and Koonawarra drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Walkability 48 / 59
Kanahooka — Walkability: 48/100 Koonawarra — Walkability: 59/100
Safety 58 / 25
Kanahooka — Safety: 58/100 Koonawarra — Safety: 25/100
Low fire risk 72 / 100
Kanahooka — Low fire risk: 72/100 Koonawarra — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Kanahooka has more residents (5,698 vs 3,732); Kanahooka skews older (48 vs 36).

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Population 5,698
+35% vs other
 3,732
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.2% +1.8%
Median age 48 36
Median household income $72,748/yr
+10% vs other
 $65,416/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+22% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kanahooka Koonawarra
0-4 5.0% / 6.2%
Kanahooka — 0-4: 5.0% Koonawarra — 0-4: 6.2%
5-14 11.0% / 14.4%
Kanahooka — 5-14: 11.0% Koonawarra — 5-14: 14.4%
15-19 5.3% / 6.5%
Kanahooka — 15-19: 5.3% Koonawarra — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 4.6% / 7.2%
Kanahooka — 20-24: 4.6% Koonawarra — 20-24: 7.2%
25-34 9.4% / 13.7%
Kanahooka — 25-34: 9.4% Koonawarra — 25-34: 13.7%
35-44 10.7% / 11.8%
Kanahooka — 35-44: 10.7% Koonawarra — 35-44: 11.8%
45-54 11.8% / 12.1%
Kanahooka — 45-54: 11.8% Koonawarra — 45-54: 12.1%
55-64 11.2% / 11.6%
Kanahooka — 55-64: 11.2% Koonawarra — 55-64: 11.6%
65-74 14.5% / 9.5%
Kanahooka — 65-74: 14.5% Koonawarra — 65-74: 9.5%
75-84 11.5% / 5.5%
Kanahooka — 75-84: 11.5% Koonawarra — 75-84: 5.5%
85+ 4.8% / 1.3%
Kanahooka — 85+: 4.8% Koonawarra — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kanahooka 43.3% couple families
Kanahooka — Couple Families: 43.3% Kanahooka — Lone Person: 38.2% Kanahooka — One Parent Families: 15.5% Kanahooka — Group Household: 2.2% Kanahooka — Other Families: 0.8%
Koonawarra 34.6% couple families
Koonawarra — Couple Families: 34.6% Koonawarra — Lone Person: 29.2% Koonawarra — One Parent Families: 30.2% Koonawarra — Group Household: 3.6% Koonawarra — Other Families: 2.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Kanahooka 12.6% renting
Kanahooka — Owned Outright: 52.2% Kanahooka — Mortgage: 35.2% Kanahooka — Renting: 12.6%
Koonawarra 42.2% renting
Koonawarra — Owned Outright: 27.1% Koonawarra — Mortgage: 30.7% Koonawarra — Renting: 42.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Certificate III & IV 19.8% / 18.9%
Kanahooka — Certificate III & IV: 19.8% Koonawarra — Certificate III & IV: 18.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 5.2%
Kanahooka — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Koonawarra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.2%
Bachelor Degree 7.9% / 4.2%
Kanahooka — Bachelor Degree: 7.9% Koonawarra — Bachelor Degree: 4.2%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 1.2%
Kanahooka — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% Koonawarra — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 0.5%
Kanahooka — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Koonawarra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.8%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Kanahooka Koonawarra
England 6.9% / 5.9%
Kanahooka — England: 6.9% Koonawarra — England: 5.9%
Scotland 1.3% / 1.1%
Kanahooka — Scotland: 1.3% Koonawarra — Scotland: 1.1%
Philippines 1.0% / 0.8%
Kanahooka — Philippines: 1.0% Koonawarra — Philippines: 0.8%
New Zealand 0.9% / 0.8%
Kanahooka — New Zealand: 0.9% Koonawarra — New Zealand: 0.8%
Germany 1.2% / 0.4%
Kanahooka — Germany: 1.2% Koonawarra — Germany: 0.4%
Italy 0.9% / 0.3%
Kanahooka — Italy: 0.9% Koonawarra — Italy: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kanahooka 84.0% houses
Kanahooka — Houses: 84.0% Kanahooka — Townhouses: 14.7% Kanahooka — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Koonawarra 93.5% houses
Koonawarra — Houses: 93.5% Koonawarra — Townhouses: 4.6% Koonawarra — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Median house price $960,000 $805,000
Median unit price $820,000 —
Median land price $420,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 31 sales
 20 days
from 14 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Kanahooka Koonawarra
3 bed $933K / $782K
Kanahooka — 3 bed: $933K (39 sales) Koonawarra — 3 bed: $782K (44 sales)

39 vs 44 sales

4 bed $1.07M / $865K
Kanahooka — 4 bed: $1.07M (31 sales) Koonawarra — 4 bed: $865K (18 sales)

31 vs 18 sales

Zoning mix

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Residential 59% 66%
Parks and recreation 9% 19%
Environmental 19% 14%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 0%
Rural and farming 4% 0%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Kanahooka Koonawarra
New dwellings approved 1,476
across Wollongong
same for both
Approvals change year on year -31%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Houses 4.2%
$700/wk on $870K
 4.1%
$665/wk on $845K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Kanahooka Koonawarra
House price Higher than 42% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
Income Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 49% of NSW Higher than 52% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 67% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW

Liveability

Kanahooka scores higher overall (51 vs 40); Koonawarra is more walkable (59 vs 48).

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Grade B C
Score 51/100 40/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Kanahooka carries more bushfire risk (28 vs 0); Koonawarra carries more crime risk (75 vs 42).

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Bushfire Low
28/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
42/100
 High
75/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 2 1

Schools in Kanahooka

  • Hayes Park Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Kanahooka High School Government · Secondary below peers

Schools in Koonawarra

  • Koonawarra Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Parks & reserves 2 1
Childcare 2
same for both
Pharmacies 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 0 3

Mobility

Koonawarra sits further from the CBD (97.1 km vs 94.9 km).

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Walkability score 48/100 59/100
Distance to Sydney 94.9 km 97.1 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 86 min 88 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 57.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 53.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2530
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 2530
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Car (driver) 70.8% / 75.2%
Kanahooka — Car (driver): 70.8% Koonawarra — Car (driver): 75.2%
Worked from Home 23.3% / 14.4%
Kanahooka — Worked from Home: 23.3% Koonawarra — Worked from Home: 14.4%
Car (passenger) 3.6% / 6.1%
Kanahooka — Car (passenger): 3.6% Koonawarra — Car (passenger): 6.1%
Bus 0.3% / 2.5%
Kanahooka — Bus: 0.3% Koonawarra — Bus: 2.5%
Train 1.1% / 1.2%
Kanahooka — Train: 1.1% Koonawarra — Train: 1.2%
Bicycle 0.5% / —
Kanahooka — Bicycle: 0.5% Koonawarra — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.2%).

Setting

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Elevation 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.5 km 6.4 km

NBN connectivity

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Connectivity score 98/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 96%
2,640 premises
 100%
1,488 premises

Climate

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Annual rainfall 974 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Kanahooka Koonawarra
PM2.5 5.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 19.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.45 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Average residential rate $1,751/yr
same for both
Council Wollongong
same for both

Federal electorate

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Division Whitlam
same for both
Member Carol Berry
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Kanahooka Koonawarra
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Kanahooka

Retirees

Koonawarra

Large Blocks River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kanahooka

Kanahooka vs Dapto Kanahooka vs Berkeley Kanahooka vs Kembla Grange Kanahooka vs Brownsville

Other comparisons with Koonawarra

Koonawarra vs Dapto Koonawarra vs Yallah
Full data on Kanahooka Full data on Koonawarra
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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